Now and again it’s nice to do a blog about specific reindeer, either as a way of getting their name out there because maybe they aren’t so well known or maybe they are well known and it’s a nice way to highlight how important they have been within our herd over the years. I think Christie is pretty well known and certainly not a background reindeer. She has been a great ambassador for a family of reindeer within our herd who have always been prominent.
Her mother was Caddis who was a great big female reindeer. Christie was born in 2017 and her younger brother is Sherlock, who I’m sure lots of you have heard of. Christie was the biggest of her year in 2017 and she grew an amazing set of calf antlers with numerous points. Calf antlers usually just go straight up like twigs. She also has a beautiful speckled white face and when she’s in her summer coat going into the autumn she looks at her absolute best!
She started breeding at 3 years old so had her first calf in 2020. Unfortunately, she lost that calf while out on the summer free range. We never knew what happened, but she went on to have five great big sons thereafter! Akubra (born in 2021), Gelato (2022), Colorado (2023), Espresso (2024) and this spring Haka (2025).
She’s certainly got a name for herself raising some of our biggest male calves each year but also coming in herself with great big antlers and in cracking condition. We do try to give cows a year off from breeding, but Christie keeps delivering the goods. Maybe next year! Sadly, we lost Gelato suddenly this summer after a digestive illness, but he won’t be forgotten – his brothers look very similar to him!
Once upon a time I’d say she was quite a shy reindeer so it’s taken a few years to really get to know her properly. Her mother was so tame and bold as well as extremely greedy. I’d say Christie enjoys her food but would never be pushy for it. Sherlock, her brother, certainly followed their mothers footsteps in being extremely greedy and pushy at feeding time. It’s funny how different they can be even though they are closely related.
Christie is 8 years old now and one of our lovely mature females in the herd. We’re looking forward to the next few years and hopefully she can retire gracefully in the not too distant future! It would be great if she has a female calf in the next few years and the legacy is continued as she’s certainly done her mother proud!
Fiona
Great to see an update on Christie as I adopted her during lockdown.
Wow thank you Fiona, that was a superb blog. Emma very kindly sent it to me this morning. Thanks to Emma, I always hear about Christie when she’s with you. It was great to see her with her calves. So sad to hear about Gelato. One day I must come to meet you all,it is on my bucket list! Thank you for this Fiona , as I know it must have took a fair amount of time.